Child & Family

When a child in Rutland County needs help, Child and Family Services is always within reach any day, any time. Under Rutland Mental Health Services (RMHS), the programs offered embrace the emotional and behavioral problems that may affect youth, from birth to the teenage years. Last year alone, Child and Family Services provided aid to nearly 956 children.

As part of Community Care Network, Child and Family Services delivers a wide range of human services, including:

These services are offered at our 78 South Main Street building. Call (802)775-2381 for access to any of the services provided by Child and Family Services. This is the centralized intake center for Child and Family Services, triaging all new requests for outpatient mental health or substance abuse services.

Crisis stabilization provides face-to-face mental health or substance abuse services. Support and referral includes triaging aftercare needs, supportive counseling, skills training, symptom management, crisis planning, and assistance with referrals from crisis stabilization in a child's home or by phone. Crisis intervention services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Intensive Family-Based Services: Through a contract with the Department of Child and Family (DCF), intensive, home-based services are provided to children who are at risk of removal from the home as a result of emotional or behavioral problems, or when a date for reunification within six weeks has been set.

Outpatient Services Through the Outpatient Services program, children from birth to age 18* and their families are able to receive psychotherapy (individual, family, group), case management, psychiatric evaluation, and medication management for mental health, substance abuse, and co-occurring disorders. Through collaborations with Castleton Family Health Center and Pediatric Associates, outpatient services are also available at medical practice locations.

Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment: Adolescents who suffer from substance abuse issues receive treatment in our offices, at school, or in the community. Treatment is provided to both individuals and families, and services extend to helping the adolescent return to the community after residential treatment and also to supporting recovery.

Therapeutic Case Management Case management provides an experienced professional to work one-on-one with both your child and your family, to coordinate other services and supports that will provide the best plan for treatment. Services are provided in the home, school, community, and contracted early childhood sites.

JOBS (Jump On Board for Success) For youth, ages 16 through 21, JOBS strives to overcome employment barriers, sustain healthy relationships, and manage the issues of day-to-day living. This innovative program presents an employment opportunity supported by a dedicated case manager. Together, they develop essential social and work skills that can reconnect the individual with the community. Call (802) 775-2381.

Youth Transitional Services

Supporting a responsible transition to adulthood. Youth Transitional Services is a program focused on the empowerment of youth in making healthy life choices. This is accomplished by providing youth with options for treatment and support.

CUPS (Children's Upstream Services) Screening, treatment, consultation and referral services are available for families with a young child (birth to age six) who are concerned about social, emotional, or behavioral issues. We provide individual (child) and family play-based therapy, consultation to childcare providers and centers, and training on social/emotional/behavioral issues.

School-Based Services Many schools in the county contract with RMHS for the provision of on-site mental health services. These services include individual, group, and family therapy, case management, substance abuse counseling, and daily one-on-one behavioral intervention and skills building. Through these collaborations, RMHS provides many of the supports necessary for academic success.

Alternative School Programs Through collaborations with schools, RMHS jointly staffs two alternative education programs where high-risk children and youth with significant behavioral issues receive special education services and intensive treatment in a supportive environment. Using a blend of traditional, experiential, and adventure-based learning, students learn creative approaches to solving problems, coping with stressors, building social skills, and managing their emotions and behaviors.

Respite Services Respite services offer short-term support and relief to the families of children and adolescents with significant mental health issues. Services are intended to help maintain family stability and to enhance mental health within the family, which may help prevent out-of-home placements, de-escalate crisis situations, and/or assist a youth to transition back into the home, and community.

*Services are available up to the age of 21 if a youth receives special education services.